Guidebook for London

Alison
Guidebook for London

Food Scene

Very popular local Turkish restaurant. Great for a tasty, good value dinner.
51 recommandé par les habitants
Gökyüzü
26-28 Green Lanes
51 recommandé par les habitants
Very popular local Turkish restaurant. Great for a tasty, good value dinner.
An amazing Turkish/Greek grocery store and bakery on Green Lanes. Great for picking up snacks or warm bread for lunch.
38 recommandé par les habitants
Yasar Halim Southgate
2-4 Winchmore Hill Rd
38 recommandé par les habitants
An amazing Turkish/Greek grocery store and bakery on Green Lanes. Great for picking up snacks or warm bread for lunch.
We really like this French restaurant for its excellently- executed classic food and its relaxed but buzzy atmosphere. A classy brasserie.
32 recommandé par les habitants
Galvin Bistrot de Luxe
66 Baker Street
32 recommandé par les habitants
We really like this French restaurant for its excellently- executed classic food and its relaxed but buzzy atmosphere. A classy brasserie.
If you like steak, this place is where it's at! Any one of the branches is good, but this is our favourite. They also do a terrific Sunday roast lunch.
13 recommandé par les habitants
Hawksmoor Air Street
5A Air St
13 recommandé par les habitants
If you like steak, this place is where it's at! Any one of the branches is good, but this is our favourite. They also do a terrific Sunday roast lunch.
You can easily reach Borough Market on the 141 bus from the end of our road, and the bus trip takes you past some iconic sights in the City of London. In full operation from Wednesday to Saturday, it's not just the best foodies market in London (which is saying something in itself) - it's a terrific destination in its own right. You'll be hard pressed to choose something for lunch! Combine this with a walk along the south bank to Tate Modern.
1617 recommandé par les habitants
Borough Market
Borough High Street
1617 recommandé par les habitants
You can easily reach Borough Market on the 141 bus from the end of our road, and the bus trip takes you past some iconic sights in the City of London. In full operation from Wednesday to Saturday, it's not just the best foodies market in London (which is saying something in itself) - it's a terrific destination in its own right. You'll be hard pressed to choose something for lunch! Combine this with a walk along the south bank to Tate Modern.
Guests recommend this local coffee shop, a couple of minutes walk from the house, for good coffee, toasted sandwiches and home made cake.
12 recommandé par les habitants
Music & Beans Haringey
461 Green Lanes
12 recommandé par les habitants
Guests recommend this local coffee shop, a couple of minutes walk from the house, for good coffee, toasted sandwiches and home made cake.
As it's up a steep hill from the house, you can feel justified in indulging in a cake! This local coffee shop/restaurant has a cool vibe and some great Malaysian food at lunchtime. We're told they do a mean full English breakfast as well too. Opens for dinner rarely and unpredictably.
17 recommandé par les habitants
Moka
5 Wightman Rd
17 recommandé par les habitants
As it's up a steep hill from the house, you can feel justified in indulging in a cake! This local coffee shop/restaurant has a cool vibe and some great Malaysian food at lunchtime. We're told they do a mean full English breakfast as well too. Opens for dinner rarely and unpredictably.
More of a cafe than a destination restaurant, this local Vietnamese place is next door to the Salisbury pub. It turns out a good line in beef curry and pho and pretty much everything is filling and tasty.
9 recommandé par les habitants
Hanoi Pho
179 Mare St
9 recommandé par les habitants
More of a cafe than a destination restaurant, this local Vietnamese place is next door to the Salisbury pub. It turns out a good line in beef curry and pho and pretty much everything is filling and tasty.
Lovely airy restaurant with great views from the top of the National Portrait Gallery. Makes an excellent lunch stop after an exhausting morning in the galleries or a romantic dinner venue. Booking is essential, and get there early to beg for a seat by the window.
Portrait
Lovely airy restaurant with great views from the top of the National Portrait Gallery. Makes an excellent lunch stop after an exhausting morning in the galleries or a romantic dinner venue. Booking is essential, and get there early to beg for a seat by the window.
For a special occasion, a traditional British afternoon tea at Brown's is spot on. There are unlimited scones (my personal favourite) and fruit cake and a spot of light piano music. Booking essential, well in advance for popular times.
Brown's Hotel
33 Albemarle St
For a special occasion, a traditional British afternoon tea at Brown's is spot on. There are unlimited scones (my personal favourite) and fruit cake and a spot of light piano music. Booking essential, well in advance for popular times.
Buzzy atmosphere, good food and great views over the bustle of Borough Market on Fridays and Saturdays. Lunch is best and it's best to book.
30 recommandé par les habitants
Roast
Stoney Street
30 recommandé par les habitants
Buzzy atmosphere, good food and great views over the bustle of Borough Market on Fridays and Saturdays. Lunch is best and it's best to book.
A cool new "ironic" Chinese restaurant and micro brewery. We love the black pepper beef and the crispy duck with pancakes. If you're there during the day, Berwick Street has one of London's oldest street markets. Best to book.
17 recommandé par les habitants
The Duck and Rice
90 Berwick St
17 recommandé par les habitants
A cool new "ironic" Chinese restaurant and micro brewery. We love the black pepper beef and the crispy duck with pancakes. If you're there during the day, Berwick Street has one of London's oldest street markets. Best to book.
Gorgeous levantine food by masters of flavour and freshness. These guys catered my 50th birthday party - that's how good I think they are! You can easily reach the original Islington branch by bus from here, and take in a bit of trendy shopping on Upper Street while you're there. Best to book. http://www.ottolenghi.co.uk/locations/
364 recommandé par les habitants
Ottolenghi Islington
287 Upper St
364 recommandé par les habitants
Gorgeous levantine food by masters of flavour and freshness. These guys catered my 50th birthday party - that's how good I think they are! You can easily reach the original Islington branch by bus from here, and take in a bit of trendy shopping on Upper Street while you're there. Best to book. http://www.ottolenghi.co.uk/locations/
The nearest location for a traditional full english breakfast. Eggs, bacon, sausage, tomatoes, mushrooms, beans, toast, maybe black pudding, and - if you think you can fit them in - chips. It's not for the faint hearted!
275 recommandé par les habitants
Finsbury Park
Station Place
275 recommandé par les habitants
The nearest location for a traditional full english breakfast. Eggs, bacon, sausage, tomatoes, mushrooms, beans, toast, maybe black pudding, and - if you think you can fit them in - chips. It's not for the faint hearted!
An east-end institution, open 24 hours and the best bagels in London, hands down. http://www.timeout.com/london/restaurants/brick-lane-beigel-bake
236 recommandé par les habitants
Beigel Bake
159 Brick Ln
236 recommandé par les habitants
An east-end institution, open 24 hours and the best bagels in London, hands down. http://www.timeout.com/london/restaurants/brick-lane-beigel-bake
This is THE place for the classic greasy spoon East End cafe full English breakfast fry up experience. Easily combined with a Sunday morning at Columbia Road market and/or Brick Lane. http://www.timeout.com/london/restaurants/e-pellicci
160 recommandé par les habitants
E Pellicci
332 Bethnal Green Rd
160 recommandé par les habitants
This is THE place for the classic greasy spoon East End cafe full English breakfast fry up experience. Easily combined with a Sunday morning at Columbia Road market and/or Brick Lane. http://www.timeout.com/london/restaurants/e-pellicci

Drinks & Nightlife

A great heritage Victorian pub and our local! Serves good food, including Sunday lunch, and has a wide range of real ales and guest beers.
77 recommandé par les habitants
The Salisbury Hotel London
1 Green Lanes
77 recommandé par les habitants
A great heritage Victorian pub and our local! Serves good food, including Sunday lunch, and has a wide range of real ales and guest beers.
A lively pub next to the tube station, which attracts a young crowd to enjoy the live music.
55 recommandé par les habitants
The Finsbury
336 Green Lanes
55 recommandé par les habitants
A lively pub next to the tube station, which attracts a young crowd to enjoy the live music.
This local bar bills itself as "A simple yet tasty coffee and breakfast bar by day…A cosy, mad house live music and cocktail bar by night!" The live music programme is erratic - sometimes it's there, sometimes it isn't. But it's a buzzy, informal place.
51 recommandé par les habitants
Jam in a Jar
599 Green Lanes
51 recommandé par les habitants
This local bar bills itself as "A simple yet tasty coffee and breakfast bar by day…A cosy, mad house live music and cocktail bar by night!" The live music programme is erratic - sometimes it's there, sometimes it isn't. But it's a buzzy, informal place.
London't oldest wine bar beside the Thames at Embankment. Literally dripping with atmosphere. Candles, vaults, a huge cheese selection, what's not to love? http://gordonswinebar.com
114 recommandé par les habitants
Champagne Bar
87-135 Brompton Rd
114 recommandé par les habitants
London't oldest wine bar beside the Thames at Embankment. Literally dripping with atmosphere. Candles, vaults, a huge cheese selection, what's not to love? http://gordonswinebar.com

Shopping

You can reach Columbia Road Market on a Sunday morning quite easily from here on the 67 bus. It's London's historic open air flower market, and is now a focus for good street food and chic gift and houseware shops. It's super busy though!
1660 recommandé par les habitants
Columbia Road Flower Market
Columbia Road
1660 recommandé par les habitants
You can reach Columbia Road Market on a Sunday morning quite easily from here on the 67 bus. It's London's historic open air flower market, and is now a focus for good street food and chic gift and houseware shops. It's super busy though!
On Sundays, this east end street market becomes the centre of trendy London life. There's art, vintage and designer clothes from independent makers, jewellery, bric a brac and fantastic street food. It makes a great day out, especially combined with Columbia Road flower market and Spitalfields Market.
878 recommandé par les habitants
Brick Lane
Brick Lane
878 recommandé par les habitants
On Sundays, this east end street market becomes the centre of trendy London life. There's art, vintage and designer clothes from independent makers, jewellery, bric a brac and fantastic street food. It makes a great day out, especially combined with Columbia Road flower market and Spitalfields Market.
Now rather sanitised, but still worth a visit when combined with Brick Lane, this clothes, accessories, homeware, and vintage market is in London's old fruit and veg market. Good street food too.
696 recommandé par les habitants
Old Spitalfields Market
16 Commercial St
696 recommandé par les habitants
Now rather sanitised, but still worth a visit when combined with Brick Lane, this clothes, accessories, homeware, and vintage market is in London's old fruit and veg market. Good street food too.
My bias, but I think John Lewis in Oxford Street is the best department store in the world. Distinctively British, good quality and good value.
59 recommandé par les habitants
John Lewis & Partners
Ariel Way
59 recommandé par les habitants
My bias, but I think John Lewis in Oxford Street is the best department store in the world. Distinctively British, good quality and good value.
Just a short bus ride away (141 or 341), this pretty high street has a villagey feel and some lovely homewares, gifts and clothes shops. Makes a nice stroll on a Sunday, especially if you walk through pretty Clissold Park. Stoke Newington High Street at the far end of Church Street has thrown up some very cool cafes and bars recently.
232 recommandé par les habitants
Stoke Newington Church Street
Stoke Newington Church Street
232 recommandé par les habitants
Just a short bus ride away (141 or 341), this pretty high street has a villagey feel and some lovely homewares, gifts and clothes shops. Makes a nice stroll on a Sunday, especially if you walk through pretty Clissold Park. Stoke Newington High Street at the far end of Church Street has thrown up some very cool cafes and bars recently.
An upmarket "village" street just behind Oxford Street. All you could wish for in chic clothes, homeware and scented candles. Look out for Daunt Books, which might be the loveliest bookshop in London (smells good without candles).
117 recommandé par les habitants
Marylebone High Street
Marylebone High Street
117 recommandé par les habitants
An upmarket "village" street just behind Oxford Street. All you could wish for in chic clothes, homeware and scented candles. Look out for Daunt Books, which might be the loveliest bookshop in London (smells good without candles).
Whether you didn't buy a guide book before you came to London, or you need a detailed street map of Ulan Bataar, this is the place to go. Stuffed with travel writing, maps and guides on several floors.
7 recommandé par les habitants
Stanfords
7 Mercer Walk
7 recommandé par les habitants
Whether you didn't buy a guide book before you came to London, or you need a detailed street map of Ulan Bataar, this is the place to go. Stuffed with travel writing, maps and guides on several floors.
Huge, bustling, can be a bit touristy, but still the authentic Camden grunge experience. Stuffed with vintage, jewellery, homewares, street food, antiques, designer gear and cocktails on the go. A "must do" if you've never been.
1028 recommandé par les habitants
Camden Market
54-56 Camden Lock Pl
1028 recommandé par les habitants
Huge, bustling, can be a bit touristy, but still the authentic Camden grunge experience. Stuffed with vintage, jewellery, homewares, street food, antiques, designer gear and cocktails on the go. A "must do" if you've never been.
In trendy and very upmarket Notting Hill, this is a huge antiques, collectibles and vintage market. Very atmospheric in its own right - even if you don't buy anything. Check out the pretty colourful cottages (don't start dreaming unless you have a couple of million quid to spare) and grab a Portuguese custard tart from Lisboa Patisserie. Best to get there around 1000 on a Saturday.
860 recommandé par les habitants
Marché de Portobello
73a Lewisham High St
860 recommandé par les habitants
In trendy and very upmarket Notting Hill, this is a huge antiques, collectibles and vintage market. Very atmospheric in its own right - even if you don't buy anything. Check out the pretty colourful cottages (don't start dreaming unless you have a couple of million quid to spare) and grab a Portuguese custard tart from Lisboa Patisserie. Best to get there around 1000 on a Saturday.

Parks & Nature

Our local green space. Finsbury Park is a good spot for a run or a walk. It has a modest lake, children's playgrounds and a family-oriented cafe in the centre. We usually start our Saturdays with a parkrun in the park. It's a free, timed 5k for all abilities and runners meet in the cafe for coffee afterwards. Sign up, print your barcode and join in! http://www.parkrun.org.uk
275 recommandé par les habitants
Finsbury Park
Station Place
275 recommandé par les habitants
Our local green space. Finsbury Park is a good spot for a run or a walk. It has a modest lake, children's playgrounds and a family-oriented cafe in the centre. We usually start our Saturdays with a parkrun in the park. It's a free, timed 5k for all abilities and runners meet in the cafe for coffee afterwards. Sign up, print your barcode and join in! http://www.parkrun.org.uk
A couple of stops away on our local train (closed September 2016-February 2017), the Heath is a huge, wonderful semi-wild space. There are iconic views over London from Parliament Hill and a very nice cafe at lovely Kenwood House. A great venue for a walk.
1215 recommandé par les habitants
Hampstead Heath
1215 recommandé par les habitants
A couple of stops away on our local train (closed September 2016-February 2017), the Heath is a huge, wonderful semi-wild space. There are iconic views over London from Parliament Hill and a very nice cafe at lovely Kenwood House. A great venue for a walk.
London's latest wetlands site, with excellent birdwatching, on a reservoir tucked away between high rise flats. It makes a good, manageable walk from our house, and you can follow the New River Path for part of the way. There's a great cafe and, if you have more time, some excellent activities, including bat walks, photography classes and outdoor yoga.
64 recommandé par les habitants
Marais de Woodberry
Woodberry Grove
64 recommandé par les habitants
London's latest wetlands site, with excellent birdwatching, on a reservoir tucked away between high rise flats. It makes a good, manageable walk from our house, and you can follow the New River Path for part of the way. There's a great cafe and, if you have more time, some excellent activities, including bat walks, photography classes and outdoor yoga.

Arts & Culture

An intimate and fascinating museum of interiors set in beautiful old almshouses on the edge of trendy Shoreditch. Easily reached on the 67 bus from here.
326 recommandé par les habitants
Museum of the Home
136 Kingsland Road
326 recommandé par les habitants
An intimate and fascinating museum of interiors set in beautiful old almshouses on the edge of trendy Shoreditch. Easily reached on the 67 bus from here.
This might be the most atmospheric place in London. Denis Severs saved a beautiful Georgian house in the heart of Spitalfields and make it into a unique immersive museum. Walking through the rooms you feel as though the families who lived there through the centuries may only just have stepped out. It's only open on Sunday afternoons and it's very good to combine with Brick Lane/Columbia Road/Spitalfields Market.
79 recommandé par les habitants
Dennis Severs' House
18 Folgate St
79 recommandé par les habitants
This might be the most atmospheric place in London. Denis Severs saved a beautiful Georgian house in the heart of Spitalfields and make it into a unique immersive museum. Walking through the rooms you feel as though the families who lived there through the centuries may only just have stepped out. It's only open on Sunday afternoons and it's very good to combine with Brick Lane/Columbia Road/Spitalfields Market.
Tate Modern is a destination in itself, never mind any special exhibitions which might be happening. There are great views of the river and the city from the new viewing platform and you might be lucky enough to catch an installation in the huge old turbine hall.
2008 recommandé par les habitants
Tate Modern
Bankside
2008 recommandé par les habitants
Tate Modern is a destination in itself, never mind any special exhibitions which might be happening. There are great views of the river and the city from the new viewing platform and you might be lucky enough to catch an installation in the huge old turbine hall.
Good to combine with a visit to Borough Market and the South Bank, this quirky little museum combines a medieval herb garret with the gruesome realities of pre-antisepsis surgery.
48 recommandé par les habitants
Le Musée du Vieux Théâtre d'Opérations et le Grenier aux Herbes
9a St Thomas St
48 recommandé par les habitants
Good to combine with a visit to Borough Market and the South Bank, this quirky little museum combines a medieval herb garret with the gruesome realities of pre-antisepsis surgery.
I love the quirky permanent collection here, and they have some really interesting temporary exhibitions too. The shop has some very cool science-based gifts and books. Easily reached within about 40 minutes from here.
122 recommandé par les habitants
Wellcome Collection
183 Euston Rd
122 recommandé par les habitants
I love the quirky permanent collection here, and they have some really interesting temporary exhibitions too. The shop has some very cool science-based gifts and books. Easily reached within about 40 minutes from here.
A jewel of a gallery in a beautiful 18th century house in a pretty square. Not always the most masterly old masters, but some iconic pictures, including The Laughing Cavalier. And more armour than you could ever want to look at. Quite a nice cafe in the courtyard.
230 recommandé par les habitants
Wallace Collection
Manchester Square
230 recommandé par les habitants
A jewel of a gallery in a beautiful 18th century house in a pretty square. Not always the most masterly old masters, but some iconic pictures, including The Laughing Cavalier. And more armour than you could ever want to look at. Quite a nice cafe in the courtyard.
This sprawling red brick building was controversial when it was first built and was dismissed as an eyesore. But that was before we were able to look inside. There are soaring white spaces, ingenious nooks and crannies and the most beautiful tower of books you will ever see (it's George III's library). There are some very interesting permanent and temporary exhibitions, a good cafe and free wifi.
430 recommandé par les habitants
British Library
96 Euston Rd
430 recommandé par les habitants
This sprawling red brick building was controversial when it was first built and was dismissed as an eyesore. But that was before we were able to look inside. There are soaring white spaces, ingenious nooks and crannies and the most beautiful tower of books you will ever see (it's George III's library). There are some very interesting permanent and temporary exhibitions, a good cafe and free wifi.
World class. The mummy room is busy, but worth it. The Sutton Hoo treasures breathtaking. You could spend a week in here and still have more to see.
1546 recommandé par les habitants
British Museum
Great Russell Street
1546 recommandé par les habitants
World class. The mummy room is busy, but worth it. The Sutton Hoo treasures breathtaking. You could spend a week in here and still have more to see.
A beautiful museum, stuffed with lovely things. I particularly like the netsuke collection.
1694 recommandé par les habitants
Victoria and Albert Museum
Cromwell Road
1694 recommandé par les habitants
A beautiful museum, stuffed with lovely things. I particularly like the netsuke collection.
A fun, hands on museum of all things bus and tube. Great for kids.
95 recommandé par les habitants
Musée du Transport de Londres
The Piazza
95 recommandé par les habitants
A fun, hands on museum of all things bus and tube. Great for kids.
This fabulous little museum is so atmospheric. Stuffed with architectural details and beautiful things, including the famous Hogarth's Rake's Progress series. all in a classic Georgian house in the iconic Lincoln's Inn Fields. Easily reached from here on the Piccadilly Line to Holborn. Opening times and numbers admitted are limited, so check out the website before you go. http://www.soane.org
183 recommandé par les habitants
Sir John Soane's Museum
13 Lincoln's Inn Fields
183 recommandé par les habitants
This fabulous little museum is so atmospheric. Stuffed with architectural details and beautiful things, including the famous Hogarth's Rake's Progress series. all in a classic Georgian house in the iconic Lincoln's Inn Fields. Easily reached from here on the Piccadilly Line to Holborn. Opening times and numbers admitted are limited, so check out the website before you go. http://www.soane.org
Fascinated by gruesome things pickled in jars? This is for you. This museum of anatomy, pathology and surgery, is housed in the Royal College of Surgeons in Lincoln's Inn Fields. Good to combine with the Sir John Soane Museum.
15 recommandé par les habitants
Hunterian Museum
43 Lincoln's Inn Fields
15 recommandé par les habitants
Fascinated by gruesome things pickled in jars? This is for you. This museum of anatomy, pathology and surgery, is housed in the Royal College of Surgeons in Lincoln's Inn Fields. Good to combine with the Sir John Soane Museum.

Essentials

I have a theory that you can find anything you want on Green Lanes. Grand Parade (our local stretch of this very long road) is one of the few remaining London high streets which is stuffed with independent stores. Sure, they can look a bit scruffy, and the Turkish restaurants dominate, but the character is all there. There are hardware shops, banks, a post office, multiple grocery and food shops, a butchers, cafes, a launderette, jewellers, locksmiths, nailbars, hairdressers...And a personal favourite: Hot Nuts.
23 recommandé par les habitants
Green Lanes
23 recommandé par les habitants
I have a theory that you can find anything you want on Green Lanes. Grand Parade (our local stretch of this very long road) is one of the few remaining London high streets which is stuffed with independent stores. Sure, they can look a bit scruffy, and the Turkish restaurants dominate, but the character is all there. There are hardware shops, banks, a post office, multiple grocery and food shops, a butchers, cafes, a launderette, jewellers, locksmiths, nailbars, hairdressers...And a personal favourite: Hot Nuts.
A large 24 hour supermarket. Nuff said.
644 recommandé par les habitants
Sainsbury's
1 Cambridge Heath Rd
644 recommandé par les habitants
A large 24 hour supermarket. Nuff said.

Getting Around

Our nearest tube station, on the Piccadilly Line. 15 minutes walk, or an 8 minute bus ride away. Then just 15 minutes into central London. Check out the TfL site for first and last trains. https://tfl.gov.uk/tube/stop/940GZZLUMRH/manor-house-underground-station?lineId=piccadilly
49 recommandé par les habitants
Manor House Station
Green Lanes
49 recommandé par les habitants
Our nearest tube station, on the Piccadilly Line. 15 minutes walk, or an 8 minute bus ride away. Then just 15 minutes into central London. Check out the TfL site for first and last trains. https://tfl.gov.uk/tube/stop/940GZZLUMRH/manor-house-underground-station?lineId=piccadilly